ii6 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



their way north. Without fail each year I observed some, 

 though, I am sorry to say, their numbers were smaller each 

 succeeding year, until in 1900 I was only able to record two 

 birds. The most striking feature lay in the fact that, no 

 matter what kind of weather prevailed, they were there within 

 a couple of days of their time. I think this will serve as a fair 

 instance to show how punctual migratory birds are in their 

 rush northwards. I may mention that these dotterel always 

 arrived during the night, and after staying a day — sometimes 

 two — they generally departed in the evening or at night. 



What thoughts must arise in the mind of the naturalist 

 who is ever on the look out for spring migrants when he 

 observes a species which he knows is a far north breeding bird 

 staying with us until June, and returning to our islands with 

 young ones in the last few days of July ! It is most un- 

 accountable ; nevertheless, such is the case with the turnstone 

 and sanderling. It has been observed, however, that a good 

 number of sanderling leave our shores for the north in the early 

 part of May, and perhaps the young we meet with in July are 

 the progeny of these particular birds ; but I very much hesitate 

 to state that it is impossible for them to be birds bred even 

 from parents leaving us in June, for migratory birds are 

 most wonderful creatures. 



